Twin configuration for increased life time in touch mode electrostatic actuators

Abstract

An electrostatic actuator and drive configuration device for use in a system requiring a long term ON state operation. The device includes a first electrostatic actuator positioned to operate in the system requiring the long term ON state upon activation of a power supply. The device also includes a second electrostatic actuator positioned to operate in the system requiring the long term ON state upon activation of the power supply. A timer is connected to the power supply to alternately select the first or the second actuator for activation to drive the selected actuator to the ON state. The timer is controlled to select the first or second electrostatic actuator on an alternating basis to prevent either electrostatic actuator from remaining in the ON state for more than a predetermined time without the other actuator being selected. The electrostatic actuators may be configured in parallel or in series, depending upon the demands of the system. When the electrostatic actuators are switches, linear actuators or relays, they are normally connected side by side mechanically parallel. When the actuators are shutters, mirrors or valves, normal connection is in sequence end to end. When devices are selected to be in the ON condition, the selection should be such that each device is closed before the other is opened.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An electrostatic actuator and drive configuration device for use in a system requiring a long term ON state operation, comprising: 
       a first electrostatic actuator positioned to operate in said system requiring said long term ON state upon activation by a first signal to drive said first actuator to an ON state to thereby provide a desired ON state operation in said system;  
       a second electrostatic actuator positioned to operate in said system requiring said long term ON state upon activation of a second signal to drive said second actuator to an ON state to thereby provide said same desired ON state operation in said system; and  
       a power supply supplying said first and second signals to alternately select said first or said second electrostatic actuator for activation to drive said selected actuator to said ON state to maintain said desired ON state operation in said system, said first and second signals independently driving said first and second actuators, respectively to permit one or both actuators to be in an ON state.  
     
     
       2. The device of claim  1 , wherein said power supply supplies said first and second signals on an alternating basis to prevent either of said first or second electrostatic actuators from remaining in said ON state for more than a predetermined time without the other of said first or second electrostatic actuators from being selected. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim  1 , wherein said first and second electrostatic actuators are configured in parallel. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim  1 , wherein said first and second electrostatic actuators are configured in series. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim  1 , wherein said first and second electrostatic actuators are switches connected in parallel. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim  1 , wherein said first and second electrostatic actuators are shutters connected in series. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim  1 , wherein said first and second electrostatic actuators are first and second valves connected in series. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim  1 , wherein said first and second electrostatic actuators are selected to be in said ON condition in a sequence where each said first and second actuator is closed before the other of said first and second actuators is opened. 
     
     
       9. An electrostatic actuator and drive configuration device for use in a system requiring a long term ON state operation, comprising: 
       first electrostatic actuator means positioned to operate in said system requiring said long term ON state upon activation of first signal means to drive said first actuator means to an ON state to thereby provide a desired ON state operation in said system;  
       second electrostatic actuator means positioned to operate in said system requiring said long term ON state upon activation second signal means to drive said second actuator means to an ON state to thereby provide said same desired ON state operation in said system; and  
       power supply means supplying said first and second signal means to alternately select said first or said second electrostatic actuator means for activation to drive said selected actuator means to said ON state to maintain said desired ON state operation in said system, said first and second signals independently driving said first and second actuators, respectively to permit one or both actuators to be in an ON state.  
     
     
       10. The device of claim  9 , wherein said power supply means supplies said first and second signal means on an alternating basis to prevent either of said first or second electrostatic actuator means from remaining in said ON state for more than a predetermined time without the other of said first or second electrostatic actuator means from being selected. 
     
     
       11. The device of claim  9 , wherein said first and second electrostatic actuator means are configured in parallel. 
     
     
       12. The device of claim  9 , wherein said first and second electrostatic actuator means are configured in series. 
     
     
       13. The device of claim  9 , wherein said first and second electrostatic actuator means are switch means connected in parallel. 
     
     
       14. The device of claim  9 , wherein said first and second electrostatic actuator means are shutter means connected in series. 
     
     
       15. The device of claim  9 , wherein said first and second electrostatic actuator means are first and second valve means connected in series. 
     
     
       16. The device of claim  9 , wherein said electrostatic actuator means are selected to be in said ON condition in a sequence where each said first and second electrostatic actuator means is closed before the other of said first and second electrostatic actuator means is opened. 
     
     
       17. A method of configuring an electrostatic actuator and drive device for use a system requiring a long term ON state operation, comprising the steps of: 
       positioning a first electrostatic actuator to operate in said system requiring said long term ON state upon activation of a first signal to drive said actuator to an ON state to thereby provide a desired ON state operation in said system;  
       positioning a second electrostatic actuator to operate in said system requiring said long term ON state upon activation of a second signal to drive said actuator to an ON state to thereby provide said same desired ON state operation in said system; and  
       providing a power supply for supplying said first and second signal to alternately select said first or said second electrostatic actuator for activation to drive said selected actuator to said ON state to maintain said desired ON state operation in said system, said first and second signals independently driving said first and second actuators, respectively to permit one or both actuators to be in an ON state.  
     
     
       18. The method of claim  17 , wherein said power supply means supplies said first and second signal means on an alternating basis to prevent either of said first or second electrostatic actuator means from remaining in said ON state for more than a predetermined time without the other of said first or second electrostatic actuator means from being selected. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim  17 , wherein said first and second electrostatic actuators are first and second valves connected in series. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim  17 , in which said valves are selected to be in said ON condition in a sequence where each said first and second valve is closed before the other of said first and second valves is opened.